CONCORD

Race car driver Sam Hornish Jr., 32, Thursday told students at the Regional Vocational Center at Concord High School that he sometimes wishes he'd gone to college.

But by high school graduation, he was already deep into a racing career that started with go-karts at age 11 and has taken him through several types of race cars, winning the Indy 500 along the way.

Hornish and his crew chief, Chad Walter, who will be calling the shots July 14 for the NASCAR Nationwide Series F.W. Webb 200 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, were there to do more than talk about racing.

They brought with them a race car for the students to see and ask questions about, although it wasn't the No. 12 Alliance Truce Parts/WURTH Dodge Challenger Hornish now drives.

But while students sought autographs and took lots of phone photos, the two men delivered a message on behalf of NASCAR, stressing the importance of education and staying in school.

Steve Rothenberg, director of the Concord Regional Technical Center, was hoping the message would include the importance of “soft skills,” such as a positive work ethic, good attitude, desire to learn and be trained, ability to work as a team. “What it takes to do the job,” said Rothenberg. He had nothing to worry about.

The two men talked about the dramatically different paths to their current success. Hornish said the only dream he had was to go to the Indianapolis 500. “I achieved my life dream at 20,” he said, winning the Indy 500 in 2006.

Walter's goal at age 20 was to be a NASCAR crew chief. It's taken him a few years, but the Cornell University engineering grad was willing to put in the time and effort. He moved to North Carolina in 1993 and for the next six years worked his way up in the garages of several NASCAR teams, starting as a mechanic.

From 2000 to 2004, he served as an engineer for Dale Earnhardt Inc. in both the Nationwide and Cup Series. Finally, in 2005, he achieved his goal of crew chief.

“You've got to make things happen for yourself,” he said. “I'm there now, but can't just sit there,” he said. “It's definitely a dream job,” he said, but it's never the same day twice at the race track. “It's an up and down sport,” said Walter.

Although always a driver, Hornish hasn't always had a smooth ride, despite that Indy 500 win. He has changed teams and is now in his sixth season of NASCAR competition with Penske Racing. Hornish has moved from the open car to stock cars, moving through Busch and Sprint and is now racing in the Nationwide Series.

Hornish and Walter, who are teamed for the second year in the Nationwide Series, didn't focus on victories in talking to students, but rather on the importance of teamwork and of everyone making sure everything is done exactly right. One flaw or one “almost right” and someone could be injured or die.

“You can't ever pay enough attention,” said Walter, who choked up recalling the crash death of Dale Earnhardt at the 2001 Daytona 500. Since then, said Walter: “It's fantastic the priority they put on safety.”

Still, said Hornish: “Racing is a very reactionary sport. We don't know what could happen until it happens.” Then issues are addressed.

That prompted a student question about whether all the safety items make drivers more aggressive. Hornish said it's more about adrenaline. In the case of his Indy 500 win, he said, he “was going to crash or win.” Why push so hard? “The exhilaration of winning,” said Hornish.

Hornish and Walter later visited Southern New Hampshire Medical Center in Nashua, to meet with rehab and physical therapy patients.